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21 July 'bomb plot' trial starts 21 July 'bomb plot' trial starts
(20 minutes later)
Six men planned "murderous suicide bombings" on public transport in London on 21 July 2005, a court has heard.Six men planned "murderous suicide bombings" on public transport in London on 21 July 2005, a court has heard.
The trial of the six men, charged with conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions, began at Woolwich Crown Court earlier. The trial of the six defendants, charged with conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions, began at Woolwich Crown Court earlier.
Muktar Ibrahim, Manfo Asiedu, Hussein Osman, Yassin Omar, Ramzi Mohammed and Adel Yahya deny the charges.Muktar Ibrahim, Manfo Asiedu, Hussein Osman, Yassin Omar, Ramzi Mohammed and Adel Yahya deny the charges.
Prosecutor Nigel Sweeney QC said the case was "concerned with an extremist Muslim plot".Prosecutor Nigel Sweeney QC said the case was "concerned with an extremist Muslim plot".
He said the "ultimate objective" was "to carry out a number of murderous suicide bombings on the public transport system in London". He said the six - all originally from Africa but living in London - chose a date for their plan "just 14 days after the carnage of July 7".
"The day eventually chosen was Thursday 21 July 2005, just 14 days after the carnage of July 7."
But the court heard how the conspiracy "had been in existence long before the events of July 7" and did not appear to be some "hastily arranged copycat".But the court heard how the conspiracy "had been in existence long before the events of July 7" and did not appear to be some "hastily arranged copycat".
'Maximising' injury'Maximising' injury
The prosecutor told how six bombs were made using a mix of liquid hydrogen peroxide, chapati flour, acetone and acid.The prosecutor told how six bombs were made using a mix of liquid hydrogen peroxide, chapati flour, acetone and acid.
Each bomb was placed in a large plastic container and screws, tacks, washers or nuts, were taped to the outside to "maximise the possibility of injury", Mr Sweeney said.Each bomb was placed in a large plastic container and screws, tacks, washers or nuts, were taped to the outside to "maximise the possibility of injury", Mr Sweeney said.
It was simply the good fortune of the travelling public that day that they were spared Nigel Sweeney QCProsecutor
He outlined the case against each defendant, saying all of the defendants were "would-be suicide bombers" except for Mr Yahya, who was out of the country on 21 July 2005.He outlined the case against each defendant, saying all of the defendants were "would-be suicide bombers" except for Mr Yahya, who was out of the country on 21 July 2005.
Mr Sweeney told the court how Ramzi Mohammed had written a suicide note which was found in pieces after his arrest, and how Mr Asiedu "lost his nerve at the last moment" and dumped his bomb.
The court also heard how Muktar Ibrahim had been trained for jihad in the Sudan in 2003 and had also travelled to Pakistan the following year "to take part in jihad or to train for it".
One of the defendants, Yassin Omar, fled London after the attempted bombings disguised as a woman wearing a burka, the court heard.
'No hoax'
Hussein Osman was eventually arrested in Rome, where he told police that the plot was a "deliberate hoax", not a serious attempt to kill commuters.
Mr Sweeney said: "Given the weight of the evidence as to his involvement, what could he say?
"The prosecution case is that this was no hoax."
He added: "The failure of those bombs to explode owed nothing to the intention of these defendants, rather it was simply the good fortune of the travelling public that day that they were spared."
The six men - all originally from Africa but living in London - were all known to each other by the summer of 2005, Mr Sweeney said.The six men - all originally from Africa but living in London - were all known to each other by the summer of 2005, Mr Sweeney said.
The jury heard that Mr Omar's one-bedroom flat in New Southgate, north London, was a bomb factory, "where the great majority, if not all, of the work required to make those bombs was carried out". The jury heard that Yassin Omar's one-bedroom flat in New Southgate, north London, was a bomb factory, "where the great majority, if not all, of the work required to make those bombs was carried out".
The trial at Woolwich - sitting at Belmarsh - is expected to last up to four months.The trial at Woolwich - sitting at Belmarsh - is expected to last up to four months.